A North Carolina man was apprehended on Friday for allegedly stabbing a US Marine to death during a large street brawl captured on video, which has led to increased scrutiny of local law enforcement, officials reported.
The suspect, 47-year-old Davy Spencer, faces charges of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He is accused of fatally stabbing 21-year-old Daniel Montano during a chaotic fight that broke out in downtown Wilmington at approximately 2 a.m. last Sunday, according to the Wilmington Police Department.
Daniel Montano, a lance corporal stationed at Camp Lejeune, located roughly 70 miles away, was among two individuals who suffered stab wounds during the altercation.
The police department has faced criticism for its handling of the violent incident after distressing video footage emerged online. The video shows the Marine, who had been fatally wounded, crouched in a pool of blood as officers attempted to disperse the fight.
The viral footage depicts several men fighting in the street when Wilmington officers arrived and used pepper spray. Moments later, the camera shifts to show Montano on the sidewalk, gravely injured, gesturing towards his neck as officers hurried to provide aid.
While officers struggled to assist the wounded Marine, a passerby intervened, removing his shirt and using it to apply pressure to Montano’s neck in a desperate effort to stem the bleeding.
Montano, along with the other stabbing victim, was rushed to a local hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The service member, a California native, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines Regiment at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, according to his devastated sister Evelyn.
“He was not only dedicated to his country, but also deeply loved by his family,” she wrote on a fundraiser page set up to help their family cover funeral and memorial costs.
“To us, he was more than a Marine – he was a son, a brother, and someone who brought so much light into our lives.”
Meanwhile, police defended their actions during the brawl, telling Star News Online they acted appropriately given the circumstances.
However, the officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation takes over the case.
Spencer, of Wilmington, is reportedly being held without bond.
